Shell-strip-cutting machine



H. H. KNOTT.

, SHELL STRIP CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-5.1921.

T E E H A s T E E H s 4 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 10, 1922.,

H- H. KNOTT.

SHELL STRIP CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5.1921.

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H. H. KNOTT. SHELL STRIP CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5, 1921.

Patented. Jan,

11% 1922. 4 sHEETs -sHEET 3.

H. H. KNOTT. SHELL STRIP CUTHNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5|-192l.

1A3fi550 Emma. Jan.11,1l922,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

HARRY I-I. KNOTT, O13

TUE-EEG C SlELL-STRE? lKFASI-LINGTQH, EIC 'WA, ASSIG-NOR T9 1 g1@3,255 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 5,

T 0 all to 710m it may concern- Be it known that l, HARRY H. KNOTT, citizen of the United States, and a resident of "Washington, in the county of Washington and State of lowa, have invented a cer tain new and useful, Shelltrip-Cutting l'dachine, of which the "following is a specification The object of my invention is to provide a machine of relatively simple and, durable and eilicient construction for sawing strips of shell, such mussel shells or the like of fragile material and peculiar shape into pieces of substantially rectangular outline.

More particularly it is my object to provide in such a machine means for receiving and holding a strip of shell and means for moving the strip of shell to various positions where the strip will be sawed into squares.

A furth r object is to provide suitable means for bringing one strip of shell into position for being sawed by series of saws and to provide means for causing the shell to be moved between its engagement with the successive saws successively to position for awing off from the strip a substantially square piece.

A further object is to provide in such a machine means for automatically handling the shell strips after they have once been inserted into the machine, so that the strips may be fed one at a time to the machine and a plurality of strips may be automatically handled by the machine at one time.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination pf the various parts ot my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth. pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a shell strip sawing machine embodying my invention Figure 2 shows aside elevation of same.

Figure 3 shows a detail, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a vertical, sectional view taken on the line l-A- of Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows an inverted. sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

the

Patent-ed Jan, 111 Serial No. 458,650.

Figure 6 shows a vertical, detail, sectional view taken 011 the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Y 7 shows a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 4;.

Figure 8 shows an enlarged. detail. sectional view taken on the line 88 otFig- Figure 9 shows a side elevation of a portion of the machine, illustrating a strip holding mechanism; and

Figure 10 shows an inverted detail, sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure at.

In the accompanying dmwings l have shown a term of a machine embodyiim my invention, which machine is provided with a base, indicated by the reference numeral 10.

Arranged in a triangle and extending upwardly from the base 10 are three posts 11, 12 and 13. (See Figures 1 and 2.) lvlounted on the posts 11, 12 and 13 at the upper ends thereof is spider 1st. shown in Figures 1 and 2, having substantially the :torm of a i more particularly referred to.

spider 15 is shown in Figures 2 and h s substantially the form of a half th its ends connected by a cross At what may be called the the base 10 are mounted screw bolts 16 (Figure 3) ed bearings 17 in which is rol transverse shaft 18.

18 is belt pulley 19 on which travels a belt 20, which may be connected with any power shaft or suitable dri viug echanisn li'i-ounted on th base 10 is a bracket 21 forming a bearing 22 for the shat-5 18 and a be sing for the lower end of an upright shalt 3. The upper end of the shaft 28 is journaled in an arm 24:, extending rearwardly from the spider 14.

On the shaft 18 is a bevelled gear 25, which meshes with a bevelled gear 26 on the lower end of the shaft 23 for transmitting motion from the Shaft 18 to the shaft 23.

Mounted on the posts 11, 12 and 13 and spaced below his spider 14. is an upper saw guard or casing member 27. Secured to the upper saw guard member 27 is a lower saw guard member 28, shown in Figures 2, 4: and 5.

The saw guard members 27 and 28 are curved in general outline and extend somewhat more than half way round the machine.

The front of the machine is left open for workmen to place the shell strips in position or for mechanism for such purpose.

Mounted in the saw guard member 27 and in the upper spider member 14 is a series of shafts 29 arranged in a semi-circle and preferably equidistantly spaced from each other, as illustrated for instance in Figure 1. (See also Figure 1.)

On the respective shafts 29 at the lower ends thereof between the saw guard members 27 and 28 are mounted saws 30. At the inner parts of the saw guard members 27 and 28, the edges of said members are spaced from each other and the saws 30 project inwardly from the saw guard members, as illustrated particularly in Figure 1.

For operating the saws, the following means have been provided:

On each saw shaft 29 near the upper part thereof is a pulley 31, as shown for instance in Figure 1. At the forward portion of each end of the saw guard member 27 and at the forward portion of each end of the spider 14 is mounted a suitable bearing receiving and guide device 31. (See Figures 1 and 6.) Mounted in each guide device 31 for foreandaft sliding movement in the machine is a ball bearing device 32.

The ball bearing devices 32 are adjustable fore-and-aft by means of screw bolts 33, shown in Figure 6, which screw bolts are mounted in the rear walls of the guides 31.

The ball bearing devices 32 are arranged in aligned pairs and support vertical shafts 3 1 (see Figures 1, 2 and 6).

On the shafts 34.- are pulleys 35. On the upper end of the shaft 23 is a large pulley 36, shown in Figures 1 and 2. A belt 37 is extended around the pulley 36, thence around one pulley 35, thence around the outer sides of the pulley 31, thence around the other pulley and back to the pulley 36, as illustrated partially in full lines and partially in dotted lines.

Extending forwardly; from the post 12 ALAN, LL Na- 11.1.1

It will be seen that the disc 412 and ring 43 form a drum. The sleeve 41 is fixed to the shaft 39 by means of a set screw 44?.

Mounted above the ring 43 is an annular member 414, having at its lower portion a flange 45 secured to the ring 43 by means of bolts 46.

The annular member at forms part of what I may call the shell carrying drum.

The outer wall of the ring 442 has a lower vertical portion 47 (see Figure 4t) and a portion thereabove inclined upwardly and out-. wardly, as at 48. Secured to the surface 47 is an annular band 19 of sheet metal or the like, and secured to the portion 48 is another band 50.

The bands 50 and 49, the ring ate, the ring 413 and the disc 42 form the shell carrying drum. V

For imparting rotation to the shaft 39 and the shell carrying drum, the following mechanism is provided:

Mounted in a suitable bearing device 51 (Figures 2 and 5) on the post 12 is a short transverse shaft 52 (Figures 2, a and 5') on which is a pulley 53 in line with a pulley 54: on the shaft 18.

A belt 55 travels on the pulleys 53 and 54; for transmitting motion from the shaft 18 to the shaft 52. On the shaft 52 is a worm 56.

Supported from the spider '15 and extending downwardly therefrom are spaced shafts 57 and 58. On the lower part of the shaft 57 is a worm wheel 59 in mesh with the worm 56. V

On the shafts 57 and 58 are intermeshing elliptical gears 60 and 61 shown for instance in Figures 4 and 5.

On the lower end of the shaft 58 is fixed a small pinion 62, which meshes with a gear 63 rotatably mounted on the lower end of the shaft 39. Fixed on the shaft 39 by means of a set screw 6% just above the gear 63 is a collar 65 from which extends radially an arm 66.

The worm wheel 59 and elliptical gears 60 and 61 rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon in Figure 5, for thereby rotating the gear 63in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon in Figure 5.

It will be understood that the gear 63 has an upwardly extending break finger or stop 67 for engaging the arm 66, as shown for by the arm 38 is a sleeve 69, which is fixed to the arm 38 by means of a set screw. The sleeve 69 receives the ball bearing device 68, as shown in Figure 4:.

The sleeve 69 supports the cams hereinafter described for operating the shell on gaging fingers, which will be hereinafter more fully referred to.

On the sleeve 69 is an annular flange 70, shown for instance in Figure 4. Secured to the lower part of the sleeve is a cam 71, which is shown partly in full lines and partly in dotted lines in Figure 7, and it also appears in Figure d in section.

The members 43 and l6 (see Figure 4) of the shell holding drum are provided with rabbets 72, which form a groove for receiving the edges of the saws 30.

The ring 44:, forming part of the shell carrying drum, has a. series of spaced radial slots 73, shown in Figures d, 7 and 10. The rings 49 and 50 cross the outer ends of said slots. Below each slot 73 is mounted a movable gate. One of said gates will now be de scribed.

Each of said gates comprises a strip or bar 7%, one end of which projects radially outwardly beyond the disc 42 (see Figures 4, 9 and 10). At its outer end, the gate 74; has an upward extension 75, which is designed to normally stand at the lower part of one of slots 73 and to form a bottom member therefor. The gates 7 4 are pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the disc 4-3 by means of screw bolts 76, having heads 77 spaced below the gates. On each screw bolt 76 between the head 77 and the gate 74 is a coil spring 78. (See Figures 4 and 9.)

A spring 79 is secured to the inner end o" each gate 74: inwardly from the pivot screw bolt 7 6 thereof and to the lower part of the disc 42, as shown for instance in Figure 10.

ii. stop pin 80 is so arranged that the spring 7 9 will normally hold the gate 7 in position with the portion 7 5 thereof below the corresponding slot 7 Supported on the spider 1.5 is a curved supporting frame or bracket 8.1. Adjustably mounted. on the curved bracket 81 is a series of plates 82. Each plate 82 has a slot 83 elongated radially with relation to the shaft 39, as shown for instance in Figure 4.

A screw bolt 84: having a head at its upper end is extended through each slot 83 and screwed into the ring or bracket 81. By loosening the screw bolt 8%, the plates 82 may be moved toward or from the shaft 38 and then looked in position by tightening the screw bolt 8% for thereby adjusting the plate for varying the operation of the gate 74.

On each plate 82 is an upwardly extendpin 85. Extending downwardly from each gate 74 is a coacting pin 86. The pins and 86 are so arranged that as the shell SL110 holding drum rotates carrying with it the gate 74:, the pins 86 will engage the pins at the proper time for moving the gates 7 4 against the pressure of the springs 7 9 formoving the plates away from the lower ends of the slots 73 for thereby permitting shell blanks to drop downwardly. One of the shell blanks is shown in dotted lines at 87 in Figure l, received in the slot 73.

The shell blank is also shown in Figures 9 and 10.

For holding the shell blank in position, after it has been inserted in the slot 73, the following means are provided:

Slidably mounted in the ring 43 in suit able slots provided for the purpose is a series of bars 88, shown for instance in Figures 4. 7 8 and 10. At the inner end of each bar 88 is a roller or anti-friction device 89 arranged to coact with the face of the cam 71. At the outer end of each bar 88 is a lateral extension 90 terminating in an inwardly projecting shell strip engaging finger 91.

On each bar 88 is a collar 92 (Figure 8) and between the collar 92 and the adjacent wall of the ring 43 is a coil spring 93, which yieldin ly holds the anti-friction roller 89 at the inner end of he bar 88 against the face of the cam 71. The cam 71 has a considerable dwell 9 at its forward part at the front of the machine for holding the engaging finger 91 outwardly during the rotation of the shell strip holding drum, while any particular slot 73 is the forward portion of the machine for permitting the free loading of the shell strips into the slots 73.

In the ring a3 and the lower part of the member 44, there is provided a series of slots 95. Received in the slots 95 are gripping arms 96 and 97. These arms are similar in con truction and are arranged in pairs one above the other, as illustrated for instance in Figure 8.

Each pair of arms and 97 is pivotally mounted on a pin 98, the pin being supported by the shell strip receiving drum.

The inner enos of the shell gripping arms 96 and 97 are inclined upwardly slightly. as illustrated for instance in Figure 4;. Each shell engaging arm and 9. has at its outer end a laterally extending shell enhead 99. (See Figure 8.)

Mounted on the flange 70 is a series of plates 100, each projecting outwardly beyond the flange 70, as shown in Figures 4- and 8. On each plate 109 near the outer end thereof is an upwardly extending pin 101.

The shell engaging arms 96 and 97 are so located. in the machine that the heads 99 may in certain positions of said arms project into the respective slots 73, as illustrated in Figure 8.

Connected with each arm 96 and 97 is coil spring 102, shown for instance in Figure 7, and secured also to the disc 42 for normally holding the said arms in position where their heads project into the slots 73.

The plates 100 and pins 101 are arranged to engage the inner ends of the arms 97 and 96 at the proper points in the rotation of the shell strip holding drum, for causing the arms to be moved on their pivots for moving the heads 99 out of the slots 73 for releasing the shell strips, which have been held by such heads.

The operation of the parts now under consideration will be more fully explained. hereafter.

Located at proper points to receive the blanks which have been cut off by the saws when such blanks are released by the move ment of the engaging fingers 91 and the lower head 99 to releasing position, are take-01f tubes 103 through which the blanks drop into suitable receptacles. These takeoff tubes may be supported by brackets 10. 1 from the lower saw guard member 28.

It may be noted that the two saw guard members 27 and 28 form a compartment, and it should be mentioned that this compartment forms a dust collecting chamber. Extending outwardly from the chamber formed by the members 27 and 28 atv points adjacent to the. respective saw members are takeoif pipes 105, which connect with a common take-off pipe 106.

The pipe 106 is preferably kept under a partial vacuum, so as to draw the dust from each sawing operation into the dust collecting chamber by suction and to then draw the dust into the pipe 106, from which it 7is discharged through the take-off pipe 10 I shall now describe the practical operation of my improved shell strip sawing machine and the construction thereof will be made clearer in connection with the description of such operation.

It will be seen that as the shell strip holding drum rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7 the engaging finger 91 will be forced outwardly by the engagement of the rollers 90 with the dwell 94 of the cam 71, and the engagement of the gripping arms 96 and 97 with the cam 108 on the flange will move the heads 99 to inoperative position.

While the shell strip engaging members are thus held in inoperative position, the operator inserts shell strips 87 into 7 the notches 7 3 preferably in substantially the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 4; that is to say, the concave surface is up, as shown.

When the roller 89 leaves the dwell 9a of the cam 71, the engaging finger 91 moves inwardly and engages the shell strip 87 the parts being then in the position shown in the lower right-hand part of Figure 7.

When the inner ends of the arms 96 and 97 leave the cam 108, the springs 102 cause the heads 99 to enter the recesses or slots 73 and engage the edge of the shell strip 87 as shown for instance in Figure 8.

The operation on each shell Strip is sub stantially the same.

When the shell strip reaches the first saw 30, the saw cuts off a substantially square blank. There are no pins 85 at the front of the machine, so that when the slots 73 are loaded and until after the first sawing operation has taken place, the gate 74 stands with its portion 75 below the shell strip for supporting the lower end thereof.

When the shell strip holding drum has moved a certain distance after the sawing operation the roller :89 engages a short dwell of the cam 71 and the finger 91 moves away from the shell strip. An instant later, the lower arm 9'? engages the proper plate 100, and thereupon the lower head 99 moves away from engagement with the blank, which has been cut off the shell strip. 1

Just before the head 99 releases the blank,

the proper pin engages the pin 86 ex tending downwardly from the gate 74, and the gate 74% is moved away from below the slot 73, so that whenthe lower head 99 releases the shell blank, the shell blank is dropped into one of the pipes 103.

An instant later, the pin 86 clears the pin 85, whereupon the spring 79 returns the gate 74 to its normal position below the slot 7 3. Immediately thereafter the upper arm 96 engages the appropriate pin 101 and theupper head 99 releases the main shell strip, which then drops downwardly until its lower head again rests upon the'member 75 ofthe gate 74.

In this connection it should be mentioned that the upper arms 96 travel in a plane above the horizontal plane of the plates 100,

and clear said plates, but are engaged by the pins 101 which project upwardly from said plates. The lower arms 97 engage the plates 100 before the upper arms 96 engage the pins 101 for securing the proper synchronism of the operation of the grippers.

Immediately thereafter, the roller 89 clears the short dwell of the cam 71 and the spring 93 causes the finger 91 to move inwardly and engage the shell strip 87, and immedi ately after the last operation, the arms 97 and 96 clear the plate 100 and the pin 101 and the heads 99 engage the side edge of the shell strip, which is thereupon held in position ready for the next sawing operation.

The sawing operations are repeated until the shell strip is sawed into blanks.

The shell dust caused by each sawing operation is sucked through the dust collect ing chamber formed by the saw guard members 27 and 28 and from thence through the pipes 105 and 106 to the dust discharge pipe 107.

It will be seen that suitable mechanism might be provided for feeding the shell strips into the recesses 73. However, the shell strip holding drum moves slowly enough, so that an operator can readily load the recesses with the shell strips as they pass the front part of the machine.

The purpose of using the elliptical gears 60 and 61 is to cause the shell strip holding drum to travel quite slowly during each sawing operation and to travel more rapidly between sawing operations.

For convenience in the use 01"? terms, 1 have used the term pockets in my claims to describe generally the slots 73, as closed at their outer parts by the members 47 and 18.

It may be noted that after each cutting operation, the shell engaging fingers move in proper synchronism to releasing position and the piece of shell which has been cut oil", is dropped by gravity, and thereafter, subsequent to the closing of the gate, the remaining shell drops by gravity to proper position to be again engaged by the holding fingers.

It will be'seen that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved shell strip sawing machine without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reason ably included within their scope.

1 claim as my invention:

. 1. In a machine for cutting button blanks from shells, a movable shell carrier having a pocket therein to receive a shell, said carrier having a slot to admit a portion of a cutter to the pocket, a cutter, a movable bottom member for said pocket, means for moving said bottom member to position for opening the lower end of the pocket after a cutting operation, grippers adjustable in one direction to engage the shell above and below the cutter, and a gripper member substantially at right angles to the lines of movement of the first grippers.

2. 111 a machine for cutting button blanks from shells, a movable shell carrier having a pocket therein to receive a shell, said carrier having a slot to admit a portion of a cutter to the pocket, a cutter, a movable bottom member for said pocket, and means for moving said bottom member to position for opening the lower end of the pocket after a cutting operation and for thereafter closing said bottom member, a gripper adjustable in one direction to engage the shell and a gripper adjustable in a direction substantially at right angles to that of the movement of the first gripper for engaging the shell.

3. In a machine for cutting button blanks from shells, a movable shell carrier having a pocket therein to receive a shell, said carrier having a slot to admit a portion of: a cutter to the pocket, a cutter mounted in a casing and having a portion projecting therefrom, a dust take-off tube communicating with said casing, a movable bottom member mounted on and carried by the carrier adapted to close the lower end of said pocket when in one of its positions and to leave the said lower end open in another position of said bottom member, means for holding said bottom member in closed position during a cutting operation, and means for opening said bottom member after the cutting operation.

4. In a machine for cutting button blanks from shells, a movable shell carrier having a pocket therein to receive a shell, said carrier having a slot adapted to admit a por tion of a cutter to the pocket, a cutter, a movable bottom member, yielding means for normally holding said bottom member closed, means for opening said bottom member after a cutting operation, said pocket having walls arranged substantially at right angles to each other, a gripper arranged ror adjustable movement for pressing a shell against one of said walls, a gripper movable in another direction to press the shell against another of said walls, said carrier being adapted to move said pocket toward and past the cutter in such a way that the cutter during the cutting operation tends to press the shell against the walls of the pocket.

5. In a machine for cutting blanks from shells, a movable shell carrier member having a pocket having walls arranged substantially at right angles to each other, means for cutting a shell or the like received in said pocket, grippers movable in such direction as to press a shell against the respective walls of said pocket, and a movable bottom below said pocket, means for holding said bottom closed during a cutting operation, and means for opening said bottom after each cutting operation.

6. In a machine for cutting blanks from shells or the like, a rotary shell carrier provided with a series of pockets each having walls arranged substantially at right angles to each other to receive shell elements, said carrier being arranged to permit cutters to project into said pockets, a series of cutters adapted to successively enter the respective pockets during the rotation of the carrier,

movable grippers adapted respectively to engage and press a shell against different walls of said pocket.

7. In a machine for cuttin blanks from shells or the like, a rotary shedl carrier provided with a series of pockets to receive shell elements, said carrier being arranged to-permit cutters to project into said pockets, a series of cutters adapted to successively enter the respective pockets during the rotation of the carrier, a closure member for the lower end of each pocket, carried by the carrier, yielding means for normally holding said closure member in operative position and means for opening the closure after each cutting operation.

8. In a machine for cutting blanks from shells or the like, a rotary shell carrier provided with a series of pockets to receive shell elements, said carrier being arranged to permit cutters to project into said pockets, a series of cutters arranged on the arc of a circle outside said carrier adapted to successively enter the respective pockets during the rotation of the carrier, a movable bottom member supported by and moving with the carrier, a pair of gripping members for each pocket, means for causing said gripping members to move to position for gripping a shell element in the adjacent pocket during each cutting operation, means for moving one gripping member to inoperative position after each cutting operation, means for thereafter moving the other gripping member to inoperative position, and means for simultaneously moving said grippers to inoperative position during that portion of their movement, when they are farthest from the cutters.

9. In a machine for cutting blanks from shells or the like, a rotary shell carrier provided with a series of pockets to receive shell elements, said carrier being arranged to permit cutters to project into said pockets, a series of cutters arranged substantially on the arc of a circle, adapted to successively enter the respective pockets during the rotation of the carrier, a movable bottom member supported by and moving with the carrier, a pair of gripping members for each pocket, means for moving said gripping members to position for gripping a shell element in the adjacent pocket during'each cutting operation and for thereafter successively moving the gripping members to inoperative positi0n,.and means for simultaneously moving said grippers to inoperative position during that portion of their movement, when they are farthest from the cutters.

10. In a machine for cutting blanks from shells or the like, a rotary shell carrier provided with a series of pockets to receive shell elements, said carrier being arranged to permit cutters to project into saidpockets, a s

ries of cutters adapted to successively enter the respective pockets during the rotation of the carrier and a movable bottom member supported by and moving with the carrier, ,for each pocket adapted to close the lower end of the pocket during each cutting operation and to thereafter move to open position, a pair of gripping members for each pocket, means for moving said gripping members to position for engaging a shell element in the adjacent pocket during each cutting operation and for thereafter alternately moving the gripping members to releasing position, one gripping member being'moved to releasing position, while the bottom is open, and the other after the bottom has been closed after its opening movement and means for simultaneously moving the grippers for each pocket to inoperative position during one portion of the movement of said carrier.

11. In a shell cutting machine, a shell carrier provided with a pocket, a cutter device adapted to enter said pocket for cutting a shell therein, a movable bottom for said pocket supported by and moving with the carrier, movable gripper members arranged in certain positions to project into said pocket for holding the shell therein at points above and below the saw, means for holding said bottom closed and said gripper members in operative position during a cutting operation, means for moving the bottom to open position and moving the lower gripper to lower position after each cutting operation, means for thereafter closing the bottom and moving the upper gripper to inoperative position, and for subsequently moving both grippers to operative position, and

means for simultaneously moving the grippers for each pocket to inoperative position during one portion of the movement of said carrier. Q

12. In a shell cutting machine, a shell carrier having a pocket, a cutter adapted t0 en ter said pocket for cutting the shell, a movable bottom below said pocket supported by and moving with the carrier, a movable gripper member adapted in one position'to hold a shell and press it against one wall of the pocket, a second movable gripper member adapted to engage a shell and hold it against another wall of said pocket means for holding said bottom inclosed position and the gripper members in engaging position during a cutting operation, means for opening said bottom and moving one of said gripper members to inoperative position after a cutting operation, and means for simultaneously moving the grippers for each pocket to inoperative position during one portion of the movement of said carrier;

13. In a shell cutting machine, a shell carrier having a pocket, a saw adapted to enter said pocket for cutting the shell, a movable bottom below said pocket supported by and moving with the carrier, a movable gripper member adapted in one position'to hold a shell and press it against one wall of the pocket, a second movable gripper member adapted to engage a shell and hold it against another wall of said pocket, said machine having means for holding the bottom closed and the gripper members in engaging positions during asawing operation and for thereafter opening said bottom and releasing one of said gripper members and thereafter again closing the bottom member and openin the other of said gripper members and thereafter moving both gripper members to operative position, and means for simultaneously moving the grippers for each pocket to inoperative position during one portion of the movement of said carrier.

14. In a shell cutting machine, a shell carrier having a pocket, a saw adapted to enter said pocket for cutting the shell therein, a movable bottom for said pocket, a gripper member for engaging and crushing the shell element against one Wall of said pocket, second and third gripper members for engaging said shell element and holding it against another Wall of said pocket, said second and third gripper members being located respectively on opposite sides of said saw, and operative mechanism for holding said bottom losed and said gripper members in engaging position durin a sawing operation and tor successively ai'ter a sawing operation opening said bottom, releasing said first gripper and the lowermost of said second and third gripper members, closing said bottom, releasing the upper of said second and third gripper members and then moving all of said gripper members to operative engaging position Des M oines Iowa, March 14;, 1921.

HARRY H. KNOTT. 

